Inuit, Dogrib elders share links to the land
Northern News Services
Yellowknife (Jan 22/01) - As efforts to devise a management plan for the Bathurst Caribou herd begin, officials have turned to elders for their wisdom and advice.
When elders met last month with the Bathurst Caribou Management Planning Committee, discussion included talk of the traditional ties between the Dogrib people and Inuit from the Kitikmeot and discussions of how these traditional ties can create new bonds that will benefit both peoples and the caribou.
In the 1930's, 40's and 50's, there was a lot of interaction between the Inuit and Dogrib. Often, they would meet around Contwoyto Lake and have great dances.
Dogrib elder Louie Whane remembered a time when a group of Inuit hired them to help bring supplies back to their camp.
Louie remembers one of the Inuit leaders as either Jimmy or Jack, but he cannot remember the last.
There were three Inuit: the leader (maybe Jacob Kudlak or Jessie Hagialok's father) and two helpers, one who may have been David Kaotalok's brother.
Another Dogrib elder, Jimmy Martin, now in his 80s, remembers meeting Jacob Kudlak.
Louie remembers the leader as being resourceful, intelligent and understanding. The leader helped both groups work together. There was a lot of co-operation and somehow they got over the language problem.
The Dogrib were paid $450 for their help in transporting supplies from Fort Rae, which was a lot of money in those days.
These kinds of meetings saw more than just supplies change hands: there were times when the Dogrib and Inuit would learn from each other.
The Dogrib taught the Inuit how to repair dog harnesses and make them out of rope. They adopted that way of making and using harnesses for a while because when they came south of the tree line, the Inuit's traditional harnesses would tear. They were made for traveling on the barren lands, not between trees. By using Dogrib-style rope harnesses, the Inuit could travel with their dog teams through the bush.
The elders used these memories of past co-operation as examples of how they could work together today. By working together things can get done.
A more intensive elders' workshop is planned for May, and will include representatives from all aboriginal groups.
Editor's Note: The information was compiled by Sandra Eyegetok and Georgina Chocolate.
